Singapore Zoo Singapore Zoo News 2016

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TheDisneyTeen

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5 African wild dogs are now permanently in their new enclosure ( and have been for at least 2 months or so?) which occupies the land previously housing Nyalas. What I find interesting though, is the different look this enclosure has.. pretty hard to describe but overall, the exhibit has been made to look more modern and the choice of vegetation/landscaping also gives it a cleaner look. It very starkly resembles the exhibits along River Safari's Amazon River Quest, so I'm curious as to whether the zoo is going to continue with this style of exhibits. The lion enclosure is undergoing renovations, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up with the same style too.

Whether or not these kind of exhibits are a step in a right direction is debatable though... for me this "urbanisation" has made it slightly less immersive
 
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Some updates from the Zoo:

Critters Longhouse is no more. In its place is the Tortoise Shell-ter, a reptile display focusing on endangered tortoises. Current exhibit/species list:

Indian Star Tortoise
Yellow-footed Tortoise, Green Iguana, Argentine Tegu
Burmese Star Tortoise
African Spurred Tortoise, Rock Monitor
Ploughshare Tortoise
Elongated Tortoise
Radiated Tortoise, Veiled Chameleon

The Zoo seems to be beefing up its reptile collection and displays, probably thanks to a new Curator for Herpetology (formerly from Zoo Aquarium Madrid) appointed this year. In particular, the Zoo and River Safari have close to 40 species of Chelonians on display at the moment.

As for the former inhabitants of Critters Longhouse, sadly the Spotted Mousedeer, Pygmy Marmoset, Goeldi's Monkey, African Ground Squirrel and Kinkajou have gone off-display. The Prevost's and Finlayson's Squirrels and Northern Tree Shrew have a new exhibit at Fragile Forest. The Leopard Cat and Malayan Porcupine have moved to Night Safari.

The Zoo also seems to be setting up another Orang Utan free-ranging area, near Primate Kingdom.
 
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Zooish said:
Some updates from the Zoo:

Critters Longhouse is no more. In its place is the Tortoise Shell-ter, a reptile display focusing on endangered tortoises. Current exhibit/species list:

Indian Star Tortoise
Yellow-footed Tortoise, Green Iguana, Argentine Tegu
Burmese Star Tortoise
African Spurred Tortoise, Rock Monitor
Ploughshare Tortoise
Elongated Tortoise
Radiated Tortoise, Veiled Chameleon

The Zoo seems to be beefing up its reptile collection and displays, probably thanks to a new Curator for Herpetology (formerly from Zoo Aquarium Madrid) appointed this year. In particular, the Zoo and River Safari have close to 40 species of Chelonians on display at the moment.

As for the former inhabitants of Critters Longhouse, sadly the Spotted Mousedeer, Pygmy Marmoset, Goeldi's Monkey, African Ground Squirrel and Kinkajou have gone off-display. The Prevost's and Finlayson's Squirrels and Northern Tree Shrew have a new exhibit at Fragile Forest. The Leopard Cat and Malayan Porcupine have moved to Night Safari.

The Zoo also seems to be setting up another Orang Utan free-ranging area, near Primate Kingdom.
Click to expand...

:( Well as much as it is great that they are expanding their reptile collection, it is indeed a pity to see Critters Longhouse go away. Was actually planning to see what changes have been made this few weeks after such a long refurbishment... well now I have something else to view. The animals housed in the longhouse were some of the most interesting animals in the zoo (to me, at least) so it is saddening to see most of them go away..

Regarding the Orang Utan Island, where exactly in Primate Kingdom do you think they are building it in? Didn't actually notice any construction last week when I was there

Also, did you check out what they did with the African lion enclosure?
 
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Zooish said:
Some updates from the Zoo:

Critters Longhouse is no more. In its place is the Tortoise Shell-ter, a reptile display focusing on endangered tortoises. Current exhibit/species list:

Indian Star Tortoise
Yellow-footed Tortoise, Green Iguana, Argentine Tegu
Burmese Star Tortoise
African Spurred Tortoise, Rock Monitor
Ploughshare Tortoise
Elongated Tortoise
Radiated Tortoise, Veiled Chameleon

The Zoo seems to be beefing up its reptile collection and displays, probably thanks to a new Curator for Herpetology (formerly from Zoo Aquarium Madrid) appointed this year. In particular, the Zoo and River Safari have close to 40 species of Chelonians on display at the moment.

As for the former inhabitants of Critters Longhouse, sadly the Spotted Mousedeer, Pygmy Marmoset, Goeldi's Monkey, African Ground Squirrel and Kinkajou have gone off-display. The Prevost's and Finlayson's Squirrels and Northern Tree Shrew have a new exhibit at Fragile Forest. The Leopard Cat and Malayan Porcupine have moved to Night Safari.
Click to expand...
that is sort of mixed good and bad news. I was just looking at the photos before I came to the thread and my initial thought was "oh no, no more small mammals in there" but then my immediate second thought was "those tanks are better suited to reptiles anyway!"

Its a pity some of the mammals are fully off-display now, especially the spotted mouse deer. Are the squirrels and tree shrews actually in Fragile Forest now, or just in separate enclosures there?
 
TheDisneyTeen said:
:( Well as much as it is great that they are expanding their reptile collection, it is indeed a pity to see Critters Longhouse go away. Was actually planning to see what changes have been made this few weeks after such a long refurbishment... well now I have something else to view. The animals housed in the longhouse were some of the most interesting animals in the zoo (to me, at least) so it is saddening to see most of them go away..

Regarding the Orang Utan Island, where exactly in Primate Kingdom do you think they are building it in? Didn't actually notice any construction last week when I was there

Also, did you check out what they did with the African lion enclosure?
Click to expand...

Hi TheDisneyTeen, I'm sure the small mammals that are off display now will be put back on display when appropriate enclosures are available.

It's not an island for the Orang Utans. The Zoo has put up vines and hot wire on a cluster of Albizia saman trees between the Douc Langur island and Pavilion by the Lake. I assume it is for Orang Utans as it is a similar set up to the existing free ranging areas.

For the Lion enclosure, works were carried out to widen the moat and add an additional fence overhang on the visitor's side.
 
Chlidonias said:
that is sort of mixed good and bad news. I was just looking at the photos before I came to the thread and my initial thought was "oh no, no more small mammals in there" but then my immediate second thought was "those tanks are better suited to reptiles anyway!"

Its a pity some of the mammals are fully off-display now, especially the spotted mouse deer. Are the squirrels and tree shrews actually in Fragile Forest now, or just in separate enclosures there?
Click to expand...

I agree, it looks appropriate for a reptile display.

Nope, the squirrels have a small glass-fronted enclosure of their own at the exit of the Biodome.
 
It's great to see such endangered species on display at the new Tortoise exhibit. The Ploughshare Tortoises and Burmese Stars are a special treat :D

Singapore's collection of chelonians is probably one of the best in the world. They just received 2 female Aldabra Tortoises that just joined their existing herd (now 7 animals).
 
Any info on numbers of the various threatened tortoises on the collection?
(esp. the elongateds, Burmese browns and both Madagascan species!)
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Any info on numbers of the various threatened tortoises on the collection?
(esp. the elongateds, Burmese browns and both Madagascan species!)
Click to expand...

From what I can see on display at Tortoise Shell-ter (don't know if there are more off show) - 2 Burmese Stars, 3 Ploughshares, 2 Radiated, 3 Elongated, 2 Sulcata, 3 Yellow-footed.

More specimens of the elongateds, sulcatas and yellow-footed are housed in other exhibits too.
 
zooboy28 said:
Are the Ploughshares new to the Singapore collection? Where did they come from?
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they were illegal animals seized by the Agri‐Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore in 2009. There were three originally; I think one died later.

If they have three on display they must have recieved some more seized animals?
 
Thanks Chlidonias. It would be fantastic if they bred in Singapore. Presumably these new indoor exhibits provide a more appropriate climate for these species, as well as offering greater security than the external yards.

Ploughshares are a species I have yet to see, so are now ranked as my #1 species to see in Singapore!
 
Chlidonias said:
they were illegal animals seized by the Agri‐Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore in 2009. There were three originally; I think one died later.

If they have three on display they must have recieved some more seized animals?
Click to expand...

Two of the Tortoises are from that seize, a third one was confiscated more recently.

And there are 3 Burmese Star Tortoises, 5 Radiated and 2 Yellow-footed on exhibit ;)
 
MikeG said:
1 Proboscis Monkey born on 1st April.
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Another proboscis monkey birth is great. Anyone aware of the current population of the breeding troop in the zoo? Also, in the rainforest walk exhibit, it seems that the zoo has introduced hornbills into the exhibit again. Is the species of hornbill Oriental Pied (based on the diagram on the map)? If I recall correctly, there used to be hornbills in the same enclosure as the monkeys too some time back, (if i remember correctly, was it rhinoceros back then?). Are these hornbills all from the bird park? If I am not mistaken, the exhibit used to house a species of muntjacs. However I haven't seen them in a while, have they been phased out/off-exhibit/moved to other zoos/returned to the night safari? I'm unsure because the map had never represented them on the map but I've seen them on one occasion some time ago and have never every since.
 
TheDisneyTeen said:
Another proboscis monkey birth is great. Anyone aware of the current population of the breeding troop in the zoo? Also, in the rainforest walk exhibit, it seems that the zoo has introduced hornbills into the exhibit again. Is the species of hornbill Oriental Pied (based on the diagram on the map)? If I recall correctly, there used to be hornbills in the same enclosure as the monkeys too some time back, (if i remember correctly, was it rhinoceros back then?). Are these hornbills all from the bird park? If I am not mistaken, the exhibit used to house a species of muntjacs. However I haven't seen them in a while, have they been phased out/off-exhibit/moved to other zoos/returned to the night safari? I'm unsure because the map had never represented them on the map but I've seen them on one occasion some time ago and have never every since.
Click to expand...

The monkeys are kept in 3 separate groups. 2 groups for breeding (one of them off-show) and a bachelor pair at the Rainforest Walk exhibit. I don't have the total number though. A male and female pair of Oriental Pied Hornbills and a pair of females Indian Muntjacs are housed with the monkeys at Rainforest Walk.
 
Singapore Zoo has mentioned (on Facebook) an extension to the Orangutan free-range area, extending towards the "Pavilion by the Lake". This is not marked on the map, but I presume it is the "Garden Pavilion" and the new area takes in what was the elephant ride space? Alternatively it could be extending down towards the Ah Meng memorial area, but that seems too far away.
 
@zooboy28: Extension is not an appropriate description as the new area is completely separate from the existing areas. The new area is between Primate Kingdom (douc langur island) and the Pavilion by the Lake.
 
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